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KRAKEN 612

LENSES

The lens is arguably the most important part of any camera. The lens, after all, focuses the light and determines the field of view that is recorded on the film.

The Kraken 612 is designed to use large format lenses originally manufactured for 4X5 and larger field-, monorail-, and press cameras because the 6cm by 12cm format requires more coverage than most medium format lenses can provide. The 12cm width of the frame is just short of the 12.7cm (5in = 12.7cm) recorded by a 4X5 camera.

In that way, the Kraken 612 and similar cameras that use the format straddle the line between medium format and large format. The main difference is the function of the Kraken 612 is firmly in the medium format camp as focusing is achieved using a rotating helical instead of bellows; it uses readily-available 120 roll film instead of sheet film; and each individual image is conceived and imagined through a viewfinder instead of being previewed on ground glass.

How to choose a lens

Almost any large format lens with a flange focal distance (FFD–more on this below) between 60mm and 180mm can be used on the Kraken 612. However, there are some limitations.

Shutter

Early large format cameras did not employ shutters and aperture controls integrated into the lens as early film and other plates had very low sensitivity to light in comparison to today’s film. If you plan on using extremely slow film (ISO lower than 1.0), you could get away with using a lens cap as a shutter.

For the rest of users, a shutter-in-lens arrangement is required.

Shutter Size

With lens-in-shutter designs, the shutter has the hardware that mates to the body of the lens. This consists of a cylindrical protrusion at the back of the shutter and a locking ring. The protrusion extends through the lens board and is locked to the lens board by the locking ring.

The lens board on a Kraken 612 sits on the end of a focusing helical. That focusing helical has an inner diameter of 61mm and the shutter threads have to fit inside that.

There are several standard sizes for the hole in the lensboard through which the shutter will mate, the most common being the Copal shutter size numbers:

#00 26.3mm
#0 34.6mm
#1 41.6mm
#3 65mm

While these are the most common, there are many different size conventions should you choose a lens that does not use a Copal shutter. 

In the printing files for the Kraken 612, you will receive three different lens boards, one each for Copal #00, Copal #0, and Copal #1. Should you need a lens board of another size you have the option of either trimming down one of the provided sizes or requesting a specific size from me at no extra charge. However, most lenses will fit the provided lens boards. 

Back Lens Diameter Issues

Lens-in-shutter designs have three major components: The front lens element group; the shutter in the middle; the back lens element group. In some lenses, the back element group is too large to fit in an M65 helical. The maximum size the back element group can be is 61mm

Wide Angle, Normal, Telephoto on 6x12 Cameras

It would be wonderful if we could use the same set of numbers to describe the characteristics of lenses as they relate to the format of the frame being recorded but, sadly, that is not the case. Instead, we refer to lenses by focal length (85mm) and relative maximum aperture (f8).

The problem is an 85mm f8 lens is a telephoto on 35mm, normal on 6×7 and wide angle on 4×5. This requires knowing both the format (in the case of the Kraken, the format is 6×12) and the focal length of the lens to determine if a lens-format combination is wide, normal or tele.

I’ve recorded a video that explains the issues involved and how to think of  lenses when coupled with the 6×12 format.

Large Format Lens Structure and how to Measure Flange Focal Distance

The lenses you will be using on the Kraken 612, large format lenses, are constructed differently from the lenses you use on your SLR or the ones that came on your rangefinder. They are lens-in-shutter designs. The video below explains how they work and if you’re new to large format lenses, this will help you quite a bit. 

In addition, you may have a lens that has specifications that are difficult to find online. This video will will go about determining the most important measurement for this system, the Flange Focal Distance or FFD. If you don’t know the FFD and your lens is not in the table below, you will need to watch this video on how to measure your FFD. 

In the Lens Table, I have marked lenses that will not work with the Kraken 612 and have indicated what issues they have. As I get reports of issues, I will update this table. 

How to use this table:

  1. Lens Equivalent: Since there is no direct comparison between the frame shape of a 6×12 image and, say, a 35mm frame shape, you cannot directly compare the lens focal length from one frame shape to another frame shape. What you can compare is the angle of view from one format to the next. For instance, if you wanted an angle of view you get from a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera, that camera would give you a horizontal angle of view of 39° and a vertical angle of view of 27° so you could choose a 150mm lens for the Kraken 612 that would give you a 40° horizontal angle of view or a 105mm lens that would give you a vertical angle of view of 29°. Or, you could choose a 135mm lens and split the difference.
  2. Lens Cone: Each lens has its own unique Flange Focal Distance and you need to know which lens cone to print. The table below will help guide you to that right lens cone. However, please understand that you may need to print a second lens cone if the first one is off by a slight margin. The tolerance range of a 3D printer is quite wide and it is easy to make a camera body and lens cone that are slightly longer or slightly shorter than expected.
  3. This table is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I have compiled this information from various sources and some of it may be somewhat inaccurate. If you come across an inaccuracy, please let me know so I can update the information.
  4. This table is incomplete. If you know the data for a lens I have not included, please let me know so I can update it with the new data. Please note that the minimum Flange Focal Distance the Kraken 612 can accomodate is 56mm. If the FFD of the lens you want to include is shorter than that, you will not be able to use it on this camera.
 

Measurement Notes:

Film plane to front face of body: 33.5mm

M65 17mm-31mm minmum distance: 17mm

Lens board thickness: 1mm

Total distance film plane to flange: 51.5mm + Actual Lens Cone Measurement. 

For instance, if your lens has a flange focal distance of 130mm, your lens cone will be 130mm-51.5mm for a measured length of 78.5mm. This lens cone will be listed as 130mm, The flange focal distance of the lens even though the actual printed length of the cone is 78.5mm.

Table Legend:

Man: Manufacturer and Lens Line
Foc Len:Focal Length
Aper: Maximum Aperture
H-FoV: Horizontal Field Of View (H-FoV)
V-FoV: Vertical Field of View (V-FoV)
FFD: Flange Focal Distance (FFD)
Cone: Lens Cone (from the supplied 3D printing files)
Tested: Tested with the Kraken 612?
Notes: Notes about the lens

ManFoc LenAperH-FoVV-FoVFFDConeTestedNotes
35mm SLR lens for Angle of View Comparison28mm65°46°These are included for angle of view comparison
35mm SLR lens for Angle of View Comparison35mm54°37°These are included for angle of view comparison
35mm SLR lens for Angle of View Comparison50mm39°46°These are included for angle of view comparison
35mm SLR lens for Angle of View Comparison75mm27°18°These are included for angle of view comparison
35mm SLR lens for Angle of View Comparison90mm23°15°These are included for angle of view comparison
Fujinon A180mmf934°17°178.2mm178No
Fujinon SF180mmf5.634°17°174.5mm174.5mmNoI have seen this lens listed as having a FFD of 174.5mm, 176.3mm and 177.5mm PROCEED WITH CAUTION AND BE PREPARED TO PRINT MORE THAN ONE LENS CONE.
Fujinon SW65mmf880°45°70mm70mmYESVery Wide
Fujinon SW75mmf872°39°81.5mm81.5mmNo
Fujinon SW120mmF849°25°132.5mm132.5mmNo
Fujinon SW65mmf480°45°71mm71mmNo
Fujinon SW75mmf872°39°82.5mm82mmNo
Fujinon SW90mmf863°33°99.4mm100mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon SW105mmf855°29°116.9mm116mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon SW120mmf849°25°133.5mm133mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon SWD90mmf5.663°33°102.5mm102mmNo
Fujinon SWD65mmf5.680°45°72.2mm72mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon SWD75mmf5.672°39°84.6mm84mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon SWD90mmf5.663°33°101.1mm101mmNoRear elements WILL NOT FIT in M65 Helical. It is recommended to avoid this lens.
Fujinon W125mmf5.647°24°115mm115mmNo
Fujinon W150mmf6.340°20°142.5mm142.5mmNo
Fujinon W150mmf5.640°20°145mm145mmNo
Fujinon W180mmf5.634°17°174.5mm174.5mmNo
Fujinon W135mmf5.644°22°131.3mm *131mmYESNOTE: The listed flange focal distance of 131.3mm is for a Seiko shutter. FFD and Lens Cone Size in a Copal shutter should be 127mm. However, before you print, it would be good to measure to be sure.
Fujinon W150mmf6.340°20°143.5mm143mmNo
Fujinon W125mmf5.647°24°121.3mm121mmNo
Fujinon W150mmf5.640°20°146mm146mmNo
Fujinon W180mmf5.634°17°175.7mm175mmNo
Graflex Optar135mmf4.744°22°130mm130mmYESAt the time of this writing, this is a very inexpensive lens that produces excellent results.
Graflex Optar90mm (3-1/2″)f6.8633389mm87mmYESThis was measured as 89.19mm It is suggested you use the 87mm cone and shim out to infinity focus.
Kodak Ektar101mmf4.557°30°89mm89mmNo
Kodak Ektar127mmf4.547°24°112mm112mmNo
Kodak Ektar127mmf4.747°24°115mm115mmYES
Kodak Ektar152mmf4.54020138.5mm138mmNo
Nikkor SW65mmf480°45°67.5mm67mmYesI have found reference to a FFD of 70.8 on this lens but I needed a 67mm lens cone to get infinity focus at f4. This is a BEAUTIFUL lens to work with.
Nikkor SW75mmf4.572°39°81.3mm81mmNo
Nikkor SW90mmf4.563°33°97.4mm97mmNo
Nikkor SW90mmf863°33°97mm97mmNo
Nikkor SW120mmf849°25°130.7mm130mmNo
Nikkor SW150mmf840°20°165.9mm165mmNo
Nikkor W105mmf5.655°28°103.2mm103mmNo
Nikkor W135mmf5.644°22°133.8mm133mmNo
Nikkor W150mmf5.640°20°146.8mm146mmNo
Nikkor W180mmf5.634°17°177mm177mmNo
Rodenstock APO-Grandagon35mmf4.5n/an/a43.2mmNONEWILL NOT WORKFlange Focal Distance too short. WILL NOT COVER 4×5
Rodenstock APO-Grandagon45mmf4.5101°62°55.5mmNONEWILL NOT WORKFlange Focal Distance is too short by 2.5mm
Rodenstock APO-Grandagon55mmf4.590°53°67.6mm67mmNo
Rodenstock APO-Macro-Sionar120mmf5.649°25°235.6mmNONEWILL NOT WORKFlange focal distance too great for lens cone. Printed cone would require printer that can print 190mm height. Contact me if you want to try this lens out.
Rodenstock APO-Sionar-S100mmf5.658°30°99mm99mmNo
Rodenstock APO-Sionar-S135mmf5.644°22°132mm132mmNo
Rodenstock APO-Sionar-S150mmf5.640°20°147mm147mmNo
Rodenstock APO-Sionar-S180mmf5.634°17°177mm177mmNoRear barrel may be too big for the M65 helicoid. Make measurements.
Rodenstock Grandagon75mmf572°39°81.5mm81.5mmNo
Rodenstock Grandagon90mm f6.863°33°UNKNOWNUNKNOWNNo
Rodenstock Grandagon-N65mmf4.580°45°70mm70mmNo
Rodenstock Grandagon-N75mmf4.572°39°82mm82mmNo
Rodenstock Grandagon-N90mmf4.563°33°98mm98mmNo
Rodenstock Grandagon-N90mmf6.863·33°94mm94mmNo
Rodenstock Ysarex127mmf4.747°24°120mm*120mmNo*FFD measured by Nick Lyle
Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon65mmf6.880°45°63.5mm61mmYES
Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon90mmf6.863°33°89mm89mmYes. Works well! The 88mm cone is suggested with the addition of 1mm of shims (included in printing files)
Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon120mmf6.849°25°120.5mm120.5mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Angulon165mmf6.837°19°164mm164mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar100mmf5.658°30°95.5mm95mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar120mmf5.649°25°117.9mm117mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar135mmf5.644°22°128.2mm128mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar150mmf5.640°20°144.2mm144mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach APO-Symmar180mmf5.634°17°177.2mm177mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Repro-Claron135mmf844°22°130mm130mmYES!
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon47mmf5.6 (XL)99°60°59.1mm59mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon58mmf5.6 (XL)87°50°69.1mm69mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon72mmf5.6 (XL) Coated75°41°81.5mm81.5mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon75mmf5.6 72°39°84mm84mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon72mmf5.6 (XL) Multicoated75°41°84mm84mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon90mmf863°33°98.5mm98.5mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon90mmf5.6 (XL)63°33°102mm102mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon90mmf6.863°33°102mm102mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon120mmf849°25°132.5mm132.5mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon165mmf8 Multicoated37°19°179mm179mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super Angulon165mm f837°19°180mm180mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 47mmf5.6 (MC Multi Coated)99°60°52.2mmNONENoFlange Focal Distance too short
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 65mmf5.6 (MC Multi Coated)80°45°72.5mm72mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 75mmf5.6 (MC Multi Coated)72°39°84.8mm84mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 90mmf5.6 (MC Multi Coated)63°33°102.7mm102mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 90mmf8 (MC Multi Coated)63°33°98.8mm98mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Angulon 120mmf8 (MC Multi Coated)49°25°133.1mm133mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Symmar120mmf5.649°25°135.3mm135mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Super-Symmar150mmf5.640°20°168.3mm168mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Symmar150mmf5.640°20°142.5mm142.5mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar135mmf4.744°22°125mm125mmNo
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar150mmf5.640°20°142.6mm142mmNo
Topcon LF Topcor90mmf5.663°33°99.5mm99.5mmNo
Topcon LF Topcor180mmf5.634°17°167mm167mmNo
Topcon LF Topcor150mmf5.640°20°144.2mm144mmNo
Topcon Super Topcor120mmf5.6 IC49°25°121.3119YesThis lens is on the Traveling Kraken. This lens ships on a Horseman lens-board that is recessed. You are better using the 119mm lens-cone.
Topcon Super Topcor105mmf4.555°28°113mm112mmYESMay vignette at wider apertures. Image circle is very close to minimum needed circle for 110mm by 54mm negative. No vignetting has been observed.

The rear lens group barely fits in M65 helical but it DOES fit.
Topcon Super Topcor150mm f5.64020°130mm130mmNo
Wollensak ?162mmf4.5 37°19°UNKNOWNUNKNOWNNo
Wollensak Raptar90mmf12.5 63°33°UNKNOWNUNKNOWNNo

Note: Angles of view are rounded to the nearest whole degree. Angle of view for 6×12 format is based on a 110mm by 54mm image size, the size of the image produced by the Kraken 612. If you do the math for a 120mm by 60mm image size your results may differ. 

Field of view calculations based on PointsInFocus.com website. Go there and check it out, you’ll probably learn something that will help you understand photography better. 

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